In a pointed critique of Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s recent address to the nation, talk show host and former government minister Dr. Jacqui Quinn described the speech as lacking substance and full of empty promises.
In her response, aired on Observer Radio, Dr. Quinn expressed disappointment at the Prime Minister’s remarks, which she characterized as “vacuous” and “bitter,” particularly in his repeated focus on the judiciary.
Dr. Quinn criticized the government’s plan to allocate $15 million for a 65-foot crime-fighting vessel, questioning the value for money in light of the existing knowledge about how illegal firearms enter the country.
“Why is this necessary when the police and customs authorities already know where and how the illegal guns are coming in?” she asked, pointing to airports and seaports as the main entry points for such contraband.
She went on to dissect other elements of the Prime Minister’s speech, such as the proposed anti-gang legislation and the deployment of 10 drones for police surveillance.
Dr. Quinn demanded specifics, asking when these measures would be implemented and highlighting the lack of timelines provided by the Prime Minister. “We want to hear that the anti-gang legislation will be brought to Parliament at the next sitting,” she insisted.
Quinn also criticized the lack of urgency in other crime-fighting initiatives mentioned, such as the recruitment of 140 new police officers and joint police-military patrols. She argued that these measures should have been in effect immediately if the government was truly serious about addressing crime.
Particularly alarming to Dr. Quinn was the Prime Minister’s announcement of plans to construct a juvenile facility at the Defense Force Headquarters at Crabbs.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATS APP GROUP
She noted that this facility is a legal requirement under the Child Justice Act of 2015, which aims to establish a criminal justice process for children based on restorative justice. However, she expressed skepticism about the timeline for this project, citing the ongoing renovations at the Boy Training School, which have dragged on for over five years.
In her critique, Dr. Quinn also took issue with the Prime Minister’s failure to address pressing concerns, such as his recent revelation about contract killings and the lack of condolences or empathy expressed for the families affected by recent violence. “The most egregious of all,” she noted, “not once did the Prime Minister express condolences, empathy, or sympathy to the families who lost their loved ones.”
Dr. Quinn concluded her response by offering several alternative measures she believes the Prime Minister should have announced. These included a high-level roundtable with all stakeholders, a gun amnesty, a curfew for teens, and the revival of community policing and neighborhood watch programs. She also called for the expedited construction of a long-promised forensic lab and a national prayer service to seek divine intervention in the fight against crime.
As the government moves forward, Dr. Quinn vowed that Observer Radio will hold the Prime Minister accountable for the promises made in his address, ensuring that the public is kept informed and that the government is transparent in its actions.
Listen to the full critique here: CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATS APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATS APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATS APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATS APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATS APP GROUP
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
Appreciated
It’s advisable for the spokeswoman of UPP to refrain from playing politics with matters of national security. National security is a serious and important issue that should not be used as a tool for political gain or scoring cheap points against opponents.
Political games and rhetoric are not productive or helpful in addressing national security concerns, and can even be harmful. The spokeswoman should focus on working constructively and cooperatively with other parties and stakeholders to find solutions that will truly protect and strengthen the nation’s security.Engaging in political maneuvering can create unnecessary division and undermine public trust and confidence in the leadership’s ability to handle national security concerns effectively.
Instead of resorting to political games, the UPP spokeswoman should approach national security issues with a sense of responsibility and cooperation, and work towards finding solutions that prioritize the safety and security of the nation and its citizens above all else. The Prime Minister’s initiatives are aligned with the values and vision of our country _your conutry, it would be appropriate to support them as much as possible. This could involve providing advocacy, advocacy, or other forms of support to help the Prime Minister achieve his goals.
cannot believe that woman was raised in a CHRISTIAN HOUSEHOLD!!! a breast cancer “sruvivor”behaving so BITTER, UNGOLDY, NASTY AND DEADLY????? this is what a PASTOR PICKNEY choose to use her life to do????
Dr Quinn is exactly right. Firstly, why does an address to the nation has to include a swipe at the opposition? Then this writer has the gumption to talk about what Jackie might have said?
However my main point is: nowhere in this so-called speech to the nation have I heard of a desire or plan to ROOT OUT the problem! Tackle, reduced, bring under control etc are weak words suggesting weak approaches. Rooting out means going to the very core of the problem and this will mean: deportations, stereotyping, letting the police do it’s work without interference etc. But of course these might mean losing political support and that is why they continue to just play around the problem. You tell me, a PM who says he knows his constituency is the epicentre of crimes and does nothing about it except use them for votes is useless
One other thing to the writer: everything ABLP does is politically calculated and that has been demonstrated time and time again. So let’s just stop playing games here.
@FULLY DUNCE it seems you are the DUNCE.
The article was right on point, every word. I watched every minute of the PM’s speach, hoping to hear something that would give my family hope for a safer Antigua. I was thinking nothing new here, only empty words. Let’s see our government put its words to action. Then maybe you’ll regain our trust.
Cannot expect anything better from anyone who refers to the elderly as “RAG TAG”
Teacher Mary must be turning over in her grave. Have mercy Lord.
Jackie is actually describing herself to a tee: VACUOUS & BITTER!!! negative rants every morning since Darren Matthew Ward left after complaining of BULLYING by the light-skin piggy vagabun
Well said Quinn, the PM just on his high horse and aint doing shit about this crime situation, we need action, not tomorrow or next week, NOW TO BLOODCLAAT !
Again, notice how the Labourites being nothing to the table but personal attacks and sheer dunceness.
The doc is spot on. Who is really the dunce here? Why Gaston Browne, of course.
There was no explicit plan,no course of action going forward, just vacuous ramblings that will amount to absolutely nothing. Hey,it’s what the clown is renowned for. Just vacuous (maybe the DAWG can learn this word)ramblings, indicative of a man without answers.
What a joke. And ti think, the Labourites believe he’s the best Antigua and Barbuda can do. Pure Looney Tools stuff .
what is Jackie doing to HELP WITH THE CRIME FIGHTING?????
“just give me a gun because I hae some people I’d like to kill” she remember who said those words?
Comments are closed.